Grille or screen



ec. 11966 L. G. BROWN 7 3 GRILLE OR SCREEN Filed June 18, l964 4SheetsSheet l F lEE'k-r-Z INVENTOR. ZE'MUAL G deem M Y @221? U aaa MI... G. BROWN GRILLE 0R SCREEN 4 Shee ts-Sheet Filed June 18, 1964INVENTOR. LEM/AL Ga fieowlv fLE.-

CE M- W 4 ffdPA/EYS ea. 6, 1966 L. G. BROWN 3 GRILLE OR SCREEN FiledJune 18, 1964 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR. E-MUA L 6;. 64m w/v Dec. 6,1966 L. G. BROWN 3,289,376

GRILLE OR SCREEN Filed June 18, 1964 4 Sheets-Sheet Flta-ii] INVENTOR.LE-MUAL 6. fieow/v United States Patent 3,289,376 GRILLE 0R SCREENLemual G. Brown, R0. Box 14488, Britten, Okla. Filed June 18, 1964, Ser.No. 376,048 9 Claims. (Cl. 52-626) This invention relates generally toan improved grille or screen for shading portions of a building. Moreparticularly, but not by way of limitation, this invention relates to animproved grille or screen incorporating means for securely retaining andspacing the terminal ends of thin, elongated strips utilized inconstructing such grilles or screens.

Many buildings constructed in recent years have a large percentage ofthe exterior surface constructed from glass, providing very large windowareas for the building. These same buildings are generally completelyair conditioned and, because of the presence of the large window areas,have tremendous heating loads due to the effect of solar energy passingtherethrough. It has been found that the air condition load to cool abuilding can be substantially reduced by installing grilles or screensadjacent the exterior of the windows to prevent the direct passage ofsunlight through the window. The screens generally utilize a latticeworkof thin, elongated strips canted at an angle to shade the building,thereby preventing the direct entrance of sunlight through the windowswhile at the same time maintaining a substantially uninterrupted viewthrough the windows from the interior. Furthermore, air conditioningsystems of the size utilized in cooling a large building require the useof a cooling tower which is located on the exterior of the building. Ithas been found that the use of grilles or screens of the type disclosedherein enhances the operation of the cooling tower and also presents apleasing external appearance to the buildings. A grille structure ofthis general type is illustrated in Hallock United States Patent3,004,642.

Generally, grilles heretofore provided are constructed from a pluralityof thin, elongated strips, which may be continuous for the entire widthof the grille or may be formed by connecting strip segments inend-to-end relation to provide the length desired. The elongated stripsare fastened together and held in spaced relation by a plurality ofclips which are positioned between the strips at regular intervales. Thestrips and clips combine to form a latticework structure, and generallydefine some form of opening through which air can pass. With mostarrangements of strips and clips, the latticework portion of the grillemay be quickly and easily assembled, but securing the terminal ends ofthe strips in proper spaced relation in some form of frame has presenteda serious problem. For the most part, the terminal ends are bolted orscrewed into a channel member by the use of various forms of bracketswhich are secured both to the strips and to the interior of the channelmember. To secure the terminal ends of the strips by this method, alarge number of holes must be either pre-punched in the channel memberor drilled in the strips and channel members during assembly. Such aprocedure is extremely time-consuming and difficult where an extremelylarge grille structure is to be installed on the side of a building.

This invention contemplates a grille structure of the general typedescribed, but providing means for quickly and easily securing theterminal ends of the strips. In more specific terms, the terminal endsof the strips are provided with dovetailed grooves which are convergenttoward the adjacent end edges of the respective strips. A frame member,which receives and covers the ends of the strips, is provided with asupporting member extending along the interior of the frame member andhaving divergent sides arranged to fit within the dovetailed grooves inthe terminal ends of the strips to secure the strips to the framemember. Spacer members, which have a web portion and a pair ofconvergent legs extending therefrom, are arranged to be slidablyreceived by the support member. The spacer members are provided insuitable lengths to hold the strips in the proper spaced relation whenassembled with the supporting member.

It is therefore one object of the invention to provide an improvedgrille construction which includes means for quickly and easily securingthe terminal ends of the grilleforming strips in properly spacedrelation.

Another object of the invention is to provide improved structure forsecuring the terminal ends of grille-forming strips, which structuredoes not require the use of fastening means such as bolts or screws.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an improved grilleor screen which can be assembled for shading and protecting structuralelements of buildings and the like.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved grille whichcan be easily fabricated from extruded easily assembled, relative impleparts so that an ornamental effect may be produced.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved grille formedof components which are easily stacked in a relatively small area forshipping and storage.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an improved grillewhich may be easily assembled and is sturdy and contains sufiicientinherent rigidity to support its own weight and to resist heavy wind orair pressure without collapsing.

The foregoing and additional objects and advantages of the inventionwill become more apparent as the following description is read inconjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein like referencecharacters denote like parts in all views, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a fragmented elevational view, partly in cross-section, of oneembodiment of a grille constructed in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of a portion of the grille of FIG. 1illustrating the means for retaining the terminal ends of thegrille-forming strips;

FIG. 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the grille of FIG. 1, takensubstantially along the line 33 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a view of one embodiment of a clip which can be utilized inthe grille of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a grille-forming stripas it is utilized with the clip of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view, taken substantially along the line 6-6of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is an end elevation view of another embodiment of a clip that canbe utilized in forming a grille construction in accordance with theinvention;

FIG. 8 is a side elevation view of another embodiment of a clip that canbe utilized in forming a grille construction in accordance with theinvention;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the clip of FIG. 8, illustrating the usein conjunction therewith of a continuous grille-forming strip; and,

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view, taken substantially along the line1010 of FIG. 9.

Referring to the drawings, and to FIG. 1 in particular, shown therein isa grille or screen constructed in accordance with the invention andgenerally designated by the reference numeral 12. As illustrated, thegrille 12 includes a side frame member 14 connected with a bottom framemember 16. It should be understood that FIG. 1 is a fragmentary viewshowing only a portion. of a complete grille 12, and that additionalside, bottom and top members will be provided as required. The grille 12also includes a plurality of relatively narrow, elongated strips 3 18which extend transversely across the grille 12 and are held in spacedrelation by a plurality of clips 20.

As shown more clearly in FIG. 2, the side frame members 14 arepreferably in the form of a channel having a web portion 26 and a pairof legs 28 disposed at each end of the web portion 26 and extendinginwardly toward the strips 18. In the preferred form of the side framemember 14, a support member or portion 39 extends longitudinally of theside frame member between the legs 28. The support member 38 provides apair of surfaces 32 which are divergent from each other and from the webportion 26 of the side frame member 14, for purposes which will becomemore apparent as the description proceeds. It should be understood thatthe support member may less preferably be in the form of a solidwedge-like member attached to the web 26 and having a pair of divergentsurfaces as described. Also, as may be seen more clearly in FIG. 2, atleast terminal ends 33 of the strips 18 are provided with dovetailednotches 34 defined by edges 36 and 38 which are convergent toward theterminal ends 33 of the strips 18. The dovetailed notch is sized to fitthe support member 30, and the convergent slot edges 36 and 38 arearranged to slidably engage the divergent surfaces 32 of the supportmember 30 so that the strip 18 will be retained against longitudinaldisplacement from the side frame members 14.

The specific construction of spacer members 40 and 42, which are shownin FIG. 1, may be more clearly seen in FIG. 2. The spacer members 40 and42 each include a web portion 44 and a pair of convergent legs 46 and 48extending from opposite sides of the Web portion 44. The spacer members40 and 42 are sized to be slidably disposed over the support member 30and when so disposed, the convergent legs 46 and 48 of the spacermembers cooperate with the divergent surfaces 32 of the support member30 to retain the spacer members thereon. Upper and lower surfaces 50 and52, respectively, of the spacer members 40 and 42 are preferablydisposed at an angle with respect to the longitudinal dimension of thesupport member 30 so that the strips 18 will be retained in the desiredangular or canted position. It should be apparent from the foregoingdescription that the spacer members 40 and 42 are substantiallyidentical in construction. The only structural distinction being in thelength of the members, which will be determined by the desired spacingof the strips 18 to maintain the geometric pattern characteristic of thegrille.

The elongated strips 18 may be constructed from flat, relatively thinmaterial, such as plastic, aluminum, steel, etc. The strips 18, whichextend in one continuous piece across the grille 12, comprise aplurality of offset, horizontally and vertically spaced, parallelportions 53 that are interconnected by inclined portions 55. As shown inFIG. 1, each strip 18 is inverted with respect to the preceding andfollowing strip 18 to form, when assembled with the clips 20, a latticestructure having generally octagonal openings.

Assembly of the grille 12 as shown in FIG. 1 may be accomplished byinstalling the bottom frame member 16 and all or sections of the sideframe members 14. A lower spacer member, which in the instance of FIG. 1would be the long spacer member 40, is slipped over the support member30 to a position adjacent the bottom frame member 16. A strip 18 is thenplaced with its dovetailed groove 34 over the support member 30 andlowered until the strip 18 is resting on the upper surface 50 of thespacer member 40. The short spacer member 42 is then inserted on thesupport member 30 and positioned adjacent the upper surface of the strip18. A second strip 18, inverted with respect to the first strip 18, isthen slipped onto the support member 30. The clips 20 are then fastenedto the adjacent parallel portions 53 of the first and second strips 18.The foregoing procedure is repeated until the grille 12 has reached thedesired height. From the foregoing it can be seen that no screws, boltsor other external fastening means is necessary to complete the asfit 4sembly of the grille 12, thereby reducing the time and the difficultyinvolved in assembling the grille.

The clip 20 illustrated in FIG. 1 is shown in more detail in FIG. 4. Asshown therein, the clip 20 includes an end section A and an end sectionB. The end section A includes a bent web 54 having parallel legs 56extending therefrom. Transverse lugs 58 and 68 are provided at thejuncture between the legs 56 and the web 54. The lugs 58 and 68 areundercut to provide transversely extending grooves 62 for receiving onelongitudinal edge of the strips 18. The free ends of the legs 56 areprovided with transversely extending hook-shaped end portions 64, forpurposes which will become more apparent hereinafter. The end section Bof the clip 20 is provided with a similar bent web 68 and a pair ofparallel legs 70 connected at the ends of the web 68. Transverse lugs 72and 74 are located on the section B at the juncture between the web 68and the legs 7 0. The lugs 72 and 74 are undercut to provide transversegrooves '76 for receiving the other longitudinal edge of a strip 18. Thefree ends of the legs 70 converge slightly toward each other and areprovided with grooves 7 8- arranged to cooperably receive thehook-shaped end portions 64 of the legs 56, whereby the sections A and Bare securely fastened together to form the clip 20.

When the sections A and B are joined in this fashion, it can be seenthat the grooves 62 and 76 in lugs 58 and 72 are arranged to receive theopposed longitudinal edge portions of one strip 18, and the grooves 62and 76 in lugs 60 and 74 are arranged to receive the opposedlongitudinal edge portions of a second strip 18. When the grille isassembled, the strips 18 will be held in spaced relation by the clips28. It can be appreciated from viewing FIG, 3 that as the strips 18 andappropriate spacer members 40 or 42 are placed in position in the sideframe member 14, the sections A and B of the clip 28, which areseparated prior to assembly, can be placed over the edges of theparallel portions 53 of the strips 18 and pressed together to cause thehook-shaped end portions 64 of the section A to engage the grooves 78 ofsection B.

The perspective view shown in FIG. 5 and the crosssectional view shownin FIG. 6 illustrate an application of the clip 20 to one embodiment ofthe grille-forming strip which is designated by the reference character118. The strip 118 is comprised of a plurality of segments 118a and118b. The segment 118a includes parallel end portions 120 and 122 whichare held in spaced relation both vertically and horizontally by means ofa central portion 124. The segment 11812 is identical to the segment118a except that the end portions 120 and 122 are retained in reversespaced relationship as compared with the ends 120 and 122 of the segment11801. The end portion 120 is provided with a transversely extendinggroove 126 and the end portion 122 is provided with a transverselyextending hook portion 128, which is arranged to cooperably engage thegroove 126 to retain the segments 118a and 118b in an assembled positionto form the strip 118.

As can be most clearly seen in FIG. 6, the end portion 122 and the endportion 120 are each provided with transversely extending beads 129 toretain the segments 118a and 11812 in proper orientation as the edgesthereof are inserted in the grooves 62-76 of the clip 20. It should alsobe pointed out that each end portion 120 and 122 of each of the segments118a and 118b is provided with a dovetailed groove 138 (see FIG. 5). Thedovetailed grooves 138 serve the same function as the dovetailed grooves34 in the strip 18, as previously described. While it is not necessaryto provide the dovetailed groove 130 in each end of the segments 118aand 118b, it is preferred to form the segments in this manner so that itwill not be necessary to provide special end segments for joining thestrip 118 to the side frame member 14. The advantage of the segmentedstrip 118 over the strip 18 is that substantially any width of grille 12can be formed without the necessity of providing strips of speciallength. Also, the

segments 118a and 11812 may be stored and handled much easier than thecontinuous strips 18.

The clip embodiment shown in FIG. 7 is generally de signated by thereference character 131 and is similar in geometric configuration to theclip 20. The clip 131 is comprised of two sections C and D, each ofwhich includes a web portion 132, and each of which is provided with arelatively short arm 134 and a relatively long arm 136 connected toopposite ends of the web portions 132. The free ends of the long arms136 are provided with a transverse hook-shaped end portion 138 which isidentical to the hook-shaped end portion 64 provided on the clip 20.Each of the short arms 134 is provided with a transverse groove 140arranged to cooperably engage the hookshaped end portion 138' of the arm136 to fasten the sections C and D together to form the clip 131. Theclip 131 may be used in lieu of the clip 20 with either the continuous,elongated strip 18, or the segmented strip 118. Grooved transverse lugs142 are provided on the clip 131 at the juncture of the web portion 132with the short arms 134 and grooved transverse lugs 144 are provided onthe clip 131 at the juncture of the web portion 132 with the long arms136. The grooved lugs 142 and 144 are provided to engage thelongitudinal edges of the strip 18 or 118 to retain the strips in spacedrelation, as described in connection with the clip 20.

FIGS. 8, 9 and illustrate another embodiment of clip which is generallydesginated by the reference character 150. The clip 150 includes a pairof parallel, spaced arms 152 and 154 which are connected by means of acentral portion 156. The free ends of the arms 152 and 154 are providedwith transversely extending C-shaped lugs 158, each of which is providedwith a groove 160. Similar transversely extending C-shaped lugs 162 areprovided on the clip 150 at the juncture between the central portion 156and the respective arms 152 and 154. The lugs 162 are each provided witha groove 164. The Grooves 160 and 164 are arranged to engage the edgesof the parallel portions 53 of the grille-forming strip 18 to retain thestrips in spaced relation. The arrangement of the clip 150 with a pairof strips 18 can be seen most clearly in FIG. 9. The clips 150 areplaced on adjacent, parallel portions 53 of the strip 18, as shown mostclearly in FIG. 10. The clips 150 may be assembled thereon by exerting aforce on the clip 150 which will tend to spread the lugs 158 and 162relatively apart, placing the strip 18 therein and releasing thepressure on the clip 150 so that the grooves 160 and 164 will slip overopposed edges of the parallel portions 53 of the strip 18. The clip 150may also be assembled with the segmented strip 118 by inserting thesegment 118a and the segment 118b into the grooves 160164 from oppositeends of the clip 150 until the hook portion 128 on the segment 118aengages the groove 126 on the end portion 120 of the segment 11812.

It should be apparent from the foregoing description that a grilleconstructed in accordance with the invention can be quickly and easilyassembled without the use of bolts, screws, or other fastening devices,and without the necessity of drilling or punching holes in the variouscomponents of the grille 12. It should also be apparent that the variouscomponents of the grille 12 can be easily manufactured by productiontechniques and will require a minimum of time for assembling the grille.

The various embodiments described and illustrated her in are by way ofexample only and it should be understood that many changes andmodifications can be made therein without departing from the spirit ofthe invention or from the scope of the annexed claims.

What I claim is:

1. An end bracket for supporting grille-forming strips having notchedend portions, comprising:

a frame member disposed adjacent the notched end portions of thegrille-forming strips;

a supporting member having a surface attached to said frame member andhaving divergent side surfaces extending from said surface forconnecting the notched end portions of said grille-forming strips tosaid frame member; and

a plurality of spacer members, each having a web portion and a pair ofconvergent leg portions arranged to be slidably received by saidsupporting member, said spacer members being disposed on said supportingmember and between adjacent grille-forming strips.

2. An end bracket for supporting grille-forming strips,

comprising:

a plurality of grille-forming strips having a notch formed in the endportion thereof, said notch being convergent toward the end of saidstrip;

a frame member disposed adjacent the end of said strips;

a supporting member having a surface attached to said frame member andhaving divergent side surfaces extending from said surface, saidsupporting member being disposed within said notches; and

a plurality of spacer members, each having a web portion and a pair ofconvergent leg portions arranged to be slidably received by saidsupporting member, said spacer members being disposed on said supportingmember and between adjacent grille-forming strips, whereby said stripswill be held in spaced relation.

3. An end bracket for supporting grille-forming strips having notchedend portions, comprising:

an elongated frame member disposed adjacent the notched end portions ofthe grille-forming strips, said frame member having a longitudinallyextending bifurcated portion arranged for connecting the notched endportions of the grille-forming strips with said frame member; and

a plurality of spacer members, each having a web portion and a pair ofconvergent leg portions arranged to be slidably received by saidbifurcated portion, said spacer members being disposed on said framemember and between adjacent grille-forming strips.

4. A grille comprising:

a plurality of fiat, elongated strips each having a plurality of offset,horizontally and vertically spaced, parallel portions interconnected bya portion inclined with respect to said parallel portions and havingeach end portion notched, said notches being convergent toward theadjacent end of said strip;

clips positioned between and engaging the parallel portions of saidstrips, whereby said parallel portions are held in spaced relation;

a frame member disposed adjacent the ends of said strips;

a supporting member having a surface attached to each said frame memberand having divergent side surfaces extending from said surface, saidsupporting members being disposed within said notches; and

a plurality of spacer members, each having a web por tion and a pair ofconvergent leg portions arranged to be slidably received by saidsupporting member, said spacer members being disposed on said supportingmember and between said strips, whereby the ends of said strips areretained on said frame member in spaced relation.

5. The grille of claim 4 wherein said clip includes:

a pair of parallel, spaced end portions;

a central portion extending between and connected with adjacent ends ofsaid spaced end portions; and

means formed on the free end of each end portion and at the juncture ofsaid end portions and central portion forming cooperating pairs ofgripping means engaged with said strips to hold said strips in parallel,spaced relation.

6. The grille of claim 4 wherein said clip includes:

a pair of detachably interconnected end sections, said end sections eachhaving a pair of parallel legs and a web portion interconnecting saidlegs;

releasable latching means formed on the free ends of said legsdetachably interlocking said legs together to form said clip; and

means at the juncture of said legs with their respective web portionforming cooperating pairs of gripping means engaged with said strips tohold said strips in spaced relation.

7. The grille of claim 6 wherein said releasable latching meansincludes:

a transversely extending lug formed on the free end of both legs of onesaid end section; and

means forming a transversely extending groove in the free end of eachleg of the other end section, whereby said grooves are arranged toreceive said lugs to releasably interconnect said end sections.

8. The grille of claim 6 wherein said releasable latching meansincludes:

a transversely extending lug formed on the free end of one leg of eachend section; and

means forming a transversely extending groove in the free end of theother leg of each end section, whereby said grooves are arranged toreceive said lugs to releasably interconnect said end sections.

9. A grille comprising:

a plurality of segmented, flat, elongated strips, each segment having atleast two ofi'set, horizontally and vertically spaced, parallel portionsinterconnected by a portion inclined at an angle with respect to saidparallel portions, and having the ends of each segment arranged to bereleasably interconnected with the adjacent segment, and each end ofeach segment being notched, said notches being convergent to theadjacent end of said segment;

clips positioned between and engaging the parallel portions of saidstrips, whereby said parallel portions are held in spaced relation;

a frame member disposed adjacent the ends of said strips;

a supporting member having a surface attached to each said frame memberand having divergent side surfaces extending from said surface, saidsupporting member being disposed within said notches; and

a plurality of spacer members, each having a web portion and a pair ofconvergent leg portions arranged to be slidably received by saidsupporting member, said spacer members being disposed on said supportingmember and between said strips, whereby the ends of said strip areretained on said frame member in spaced relation.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,188,032 5/1938Gibson 52663 X 2,847,731 8/1958 Hollander 52663 X 3,004,642 10/1961Hallock 52663 3,187,857 6/1965' Br-own 52663 X 3,191,729 6/1965 Brown52663 X 3,216,169 11/1965 Hallock 52626 FOREIGN PATENTS 179,196 5/1962Sweden.

FRANK L. ABBOTT, Primary Examiner.

R. S. VERMUT, Assistant Examiner.

1. AN END BRACKET FOR SUPPORTING GRILLE-FORMING STRIPS HAVING NOTCHESEND PORTIONS, COMPRISING: A FRAME MEMBER DISPOSED ADJACENT THE NOTCHEDEND PORTIONS OF THE GRILLE-FORMING STRIPS; A SUPPORTING MEMBER HAVING ASURFACE ATTACHED TO SAID FRAME MEMBER AND HAVING DIVERGENT SIDE SURFACESEXTENDING FROM SAID SURFACE FOR CONNECTING THE NOTCHED END PORTIONS OFSAID GRILLE-FORMING STRIPS TO SAID FRAME MEMBER; AND A PLURALITY OFSPACER MEMBERS, EACH HAVING A WEB PORTION AND A PAIR OF COVERGENT LEGPORTIONS ARRANGED TO BE SLIDABLY RECEIVED BY SAID SUPPORTING MEMBER,SAID SPACER MEMBERS BEING DISPOSED ON SAID SUPPORTING MEMBER AND BETWEENADJACENT GRILLE-FORMING STRIPS.